The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:23
Words: Jessie B. Pounds, 1897. One Sunday morning, when she had been married only a few weeks, Jessie was not feeling well, so her husband John went to church without her (Central Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana). Jessie stayed home and began meditating on Heaven; by the time John returned, she had produced these words.
The Euterpean Quartette sang this song at the 1901 funeral of assassinated American president William McKinley. It was reportedly his favorite song.
Music: John S. Fearis (🔊 pdf nwc).
Somewhere the sun is shining,
Somewhere the songbirds dwell;
Hush, then, thy sad repining,
God lives, and all is well.
Refrain
Somewhere, somewhere,
Beautiful Isle of Somewhere!
Land of the true, where we live anew,
Beautiful Isle of Somewhere!
Somewhere the day is longer,
Somewhere the task is done;
Somewhere the heart is stronger,
Somewhere the guerdon won.
Refrain
Somewhere the load is lifted,
Close by an open door;
Somewhere the clouds are rifted,
Somewhere the angels sing.
Refrain